Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-09

II is conceded that we have n larger per
centage of urban population than is desira-
bic. Our immigrants from abroad too oft
en- go cityward, while there is good ground
for the complaint that our farmers sons
and daughters are much disposed to leave
the country. II we can lessen this influx
Of people into the city we will do well l
am inclined to think that we will do no
good by Seeding or preaching. Truth to
tell, our SONS aud daughters are under no
more obligations 10 follow in the industrial
footsteps of their parents than are the chill
dren of other people yet no one goes 10
preaching about it when the physicians
son docs not study medicine when the car
pentcr's son forsakes the saw and the plane
for Blackstone and Story, or when the law
yer's SON becomes a carpenter. Boys and
girls leave the country for the city because
they hope to do better by the change and
if we would keep them where they are we
must show them fairly and dispassionately
that the country has the most to offer.
Farming does not get full credit. Even the
agricultural journals are disposed to do it
injustice. The farmer is pitied and sympa-
thaed WITH rs if he worked harder and
got less pay than any other man. Naturally
enough the children get the notion that in
the city the pay is much better and the
work much easier and nicer than in the
country.
Not one farmer in a thousand gives his
farm full credit. Take, for instance, the
matter of income. Quite frequently you
will hear farmer say, "My cousin gets
salary of fifteen hundred dollars year he
keeps the hooks of Pig Iron & Co. if had
such an income as that | would get rich -
or, the salary of our county treasurer is
l.. 4.
work Us hard rs do, and vet he gets four
times as much And yet the farmer who
thinks he has AN income equal to only one
| fourth the income of the county treasurer,
has really an income larger. He has not
credited his farm with the use of the dwell
ling house; with vegetables fruits, grains
| and meats produced on the farm and con
sumed 10y the family with the use of horse
| and carriage with milk, butter and eggs
| with dozen other considerable items new
er forgotten 10y the city man because they
| always cost him money, but not credited t.
the farm because the farm .uuces them
True, the bookkeeper or public offica
| gets $1,000 per year. One fourth of thi.
must he paid for house no better than tn,
one you live in another fourth must x
for the vegetables, fruits, grains, meats
butter eggs aud milk you have used bu
not credited to the farm that produce,
them. \ horse and carriage. such as YOU
have, will cost the city man at least S4OI
more Other items will consume well nigl
the remaining $500. If you had his incom
YOU would not grow rich near as fast "A
you think. am often reminded of the re
mark of ucighbur of mine who moved +
the city After he had lived in the city
year, he said to me "A man living in tn
oft, g..
it. When | was on the farm quite often
didn't pay ont cent of money in week
now | have to pay ont money every day.
don't live so well now as | did ON the farm
yet | am saving less money OF ever
hundred farmers who 20 to the city full
ninety have Il similar experience.
is safe to say that after living in the cit
for two years they would give the farl
credit for twice or thrice as much us the
did before Like other blessings, the farl
is not fully appreciated while it is in POI
) session.
The notion that city work is easier an
nicer is as erroneous as the notion that cit
pay is better No one will question thu
. what are termed the manual employment
require in the city as vigorous use of Il
muscles rs farming. 1t is SO apparent thu
+ no argument is required to prove it, thu
the man who works ON the streets, wi
t carries mortar and brick, who lays stone
$ brick, who stands before the forge etc
} works rs hard as the farmer and the far
cannot show work SO severe as that don
{ 10y the moulrIs in the various fuundrie
/ 1t is the clerk, neatly dressed and in Il
T. shade all day that we envy. But We
not reflect that the clerk thinks it gre
i hardship that he must he neatly dresse,
i that he cannot lay aside his coat, or cv,
I so much as intuition it and throw it bac
i True, he is in the shade, but in the stol
II the air is very still The store is warm
t than the harvest field, and instead
I throwing off coat and vest, the clerk mu
i keep both ON and buttoned up closely.
j. is no advantage to be- neatly dressed VIII,
Il the Thermometer stands at 100 Nor do
y the farm laborcr work more hours than Il
J. clerk for the store does not close till t,
at night, and the clerk must he ON hand
.. the morning almost as early as the farm
p goes aiield And if any one thinks it
II easy or agreeable To handle goods and p
q up with the cruchets of some women, he
u badly mistaken. Let the farm be credit
g in full and it will appear that nothing is
d be gained 10y joining the army of applican
e for work in the crowded city.-John
e Sdhi, in Neir England Farmer